Get Broadband was a three-year community-based program dedicated to increasing the use of broadband-based technologies to make rural Minnesota communities, their residents and institutions more productive, efficient and competitive.

The program was based on the premise that high-speed, always-on broadband-based Internet applications and services help rural communities:

• Attract and retain higher paying jobs
• Make entrepreneurs and traditional industries more competitive and productive
• Improve the efficiency of the community services
• Improve quality of life

Over the duration of the program, we worked with 29 communities on their broadband strategies, and produced tools that support any community interested in promoting broadband use as a community and economic development strategy. The majority of communities completed their programs by Spring 2008.

Measuring the Impact

To measure the impact of the Get Broadband program, pre- and post-surveys of broadband Internet use were conducted in each community as they entered and completed the program.  These surveys were conducted by the Center for Rural Policy at Minnesota State University – Mankato. 

Blandin Foundation is pleased to provide these findings that demonstrate that communities that collaborate on community technology initiatives significantly increase their technological vitality.

Key Findings

• Residential broadband usage went up in every community participating in the Get Broadband program.  Of the 21 communities for which pre- and post-testing was completed, the percentage difference in households using broadband ranged from a low of 3.2% to 26.2%.  The median improvement was 15.6%; the mean was 16.4%.  The comparable statewide difference was 13% in both 2006 and 2007.  Sixteen of 21 communities exceeded the state performance.
• Using percentage change as the measure of residential broadband growth yields community results ranging from 8.9% to 140.9% with an average of 57%.  Center for Rural Policy studies indicated growth rates of 48.1% in 2005-2006 and 32% growth rate in 2006-2007 for all of greater Minnesota.   This measure is, of course, greatly influenced by the percentage of existing users prior to the Get Broadband program.
• Business use of broadband grew in every community, ranging from 3.1% to an amazing 393.6%.  The point difference in pre- and post-surveys ranged from 1.9% to 61.8% or an average of 19.4%.   No statewide or rural Minnesota data are available for comparison.